Vibrator and method of using the same



c. A. PRIEST 1,787,211

VIBRATOR AND METHOD OF USING THE SAME Filed Nov. 23, 1927 Dec.31), 1930.

g9 EG 111E212!!! Wi -E haw/e5 f)- Fries? Patented Dec. 30, 1930 I CHARLES A. PRIEST, or CHICAGO, rnmivors isssreivon T THEscHoLL MFG. 00. um,

I OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK IVIBRATOR nivnnnrnon or USING THE SAME Application filed November 23, 1927. Serial No.= 235,334..

' This invention relatesto vibrators and the like and incorporates a new use for thesame. .This invention relates more particularly to vibrators of the type actuated by aflexible drive shaft which in turn may be actuated .by an electrical motor or equivalent means. v o Devices of this character heretofore in use have been used extensively for facial massages and in various beauty or reducing treatments. However, I have found that a vibrator of the type set forth herein, if not essential, is at least. highly desirable for the treatment of orthopedic disturbances and comparatively minor ailments of the human 1fcizot, such as corns, calluses, bunions, or the 1 e. 7 I r o A device of the type describedherein, when applied to an afliicted portion of the human foot, tends to-stimulate or produce circulation in the said portion, therebyomaterially aiding the blood, in carrying off the poisonous matter that usually accumulates in or adjacent to such afliicted portions. For instance, to effectively treat bunions wherein an oil collects and remains, it'is necessary to provide circulation through the afliicted portion to thereby remove the collected oil. invention when properly'appliedv will frequently accomplish this result. -However, in some instances in: the treatment of certain ailments of the foot, it is desirable to use other instruments prior to the appli-. cation of the vibrator and so it is desirable that. the other instruments as well as the vibrator may be quickly and'easily attached or connected to the same flexible shaft.

, It is highly essential also in properly treatingportions of the foot from which skin or the like, has been previously removed, thatthe applicator of the vibrator does not rotate but merelygyrates to adequately stimulate circulation in the afflicted portion without injuring'the same. it Vibrators heretofore in use, for reasons thatwill become obvious hereinafter, have not been especially adapted to the proper treatment of corns, calluses, orthopedic disturbances ofthe foot and the like, b It is accordingly an object ofthe present invention to provide a vibrator unit that may be easily and quickly attached and detached from a drive shaft.

Another objectiof the present invention is to provide a, vibrator'having a removable applicator associated therewith, which ap plicator is gyratory but not rotatable.

,A further object of the present invention isto provide means adapted to be used in eflecting anew method of treatingailments of a foot or similar extremity of a body.

Other and further important objects of the present invention will be apparent vfrom the disclosures in the specification and the accompanying.drawings. o 1

'This invention (in a preferred form) is illustrated in the drawings and hereinafter 7 more fully described.-

On the drawings: Figure-'1 is a fragmentary view in elevation ofa flexible shaft secured to a clutch adapted to hold various instruments.

Figure 2 isia fragmentary view in eleva- V extremity of which 'is enclosed'by a stiffened casingIEZ, the other extremity of the shaft being connected toand driven by an electric motor orequivalent means (not shown in the drawings), Secured'to the outer end of the casing 2 is a sleeve3 with means thereon, for-removably attaching anarticle thereto. As shownin Figure 1 a clutch at is attached to the sleeve 8. This clutch 4 is of the usual-type of construction and adapted to receive, various instruments such as drills, buffers, or the like, whereby the instruments will be actuated by theflexible shaft 1.

increase both the inner and outer diameters adjacent the threaded portion 7. Also adj acent this threadedend 7, an integral shoulder 8 is provided'to receive in' abutment therewith a cap 9 apertured as at 10 Adjaa cent the other end of the sleeve 6, the bore therein is of a smaller diameter thereby providing an inner annular shoulder 11, and adj acent the extreme end of the sleeve, the outer diameter is reduced to accommodate a coupling sleeve 12.

Within the housing, sleeve 6, and the coupling sleeve 12, a shaft 13 is disposed. This shaft may be made of a single piece ofmaterial or, as shown, of two units secured toether. An annular recess 14 is provided in r the shaft 13 adjacent the junction point of the sleeves 6' and 12, to accommodate an inwardly projecting flange l5 on the sleeve 12,

which flange abuts the end-of the sleeve, 6.

The outerend of the shaft 13 is notched as at'16to permit ready and eifectiveengagement with the end of. the drive shaft 1. V

The means for coupling the vibrator unit to the drive shaft 1 include a lever 17 welded to a fiat spring 18 secured'to the sleeve 3-. which tends to hold the forward end of the lever in'abutmentwithjthe sleeve 3. The

sleeve 12 is notched asat 19 110 permit the same to embrace the rear portion of the spring 18, and a small notchf20 is also. provided in the sleeve 12to be engaged by-a shoulder 21 adj aeent the tip of the lever 17' to retain the respective parts in operative connection. The shoulder. tip of the lever 17, of course, is manuallyraised topermit the sleeve 12 to slide thereunder, the shaft 16 engaging with the shaft 1 simultaneously therewith.

The inner end of the shaft 13 is provided with an enlarged portion 22 which is. retained in place by the shoulder 11 within the sleeve 6. This portion 22 is recessed as at 23 to accommodate a substantially spheroidal tip 24 on the end ofa gyra-tory shaft '25. Adjacent the spheroidal tip 24, the shaft 25 is tapered,as at 26, and at the other end of thetapered shaft, an enlarged arcuate and integral portion 27 is provided'on the shaft 2 5 to substantially abut the cap 9, whereby the gyratory shaft is retained in operative connection with the rotatable shaft 13. It is to be-noted that the recess 23 in the shaft 13, is offset to thereby provide an eccentric connectionbetween the gyratory "and rotatable shafts.

' When the shaft13 rotates, the spheroidal tip 24011 the shaft 25 will follow the recess 23-, the

enlarged a-rcuate portion 27 ,will act asa pivinwardly threaded to accommodate an outwardly' threaded shaft 31 secured to an applicator 32. The applicator 32 is retained in connection with the shaft 31 by means of a nut 33. By merely unscrewing the shaft 31 from the shaft 25,-the applicator, of course, may be removed and replaced by another. The applicator shown in this instance is of a cup-like formand preferably, though not necessarily, made of a rubber composition. This form of applicatoris found desirable in the massaging of foot ailments but obviously, if necessary, it maybe replaced byan applicatorof different configuration.

I A substantially short sleeve 34 embraces the sleeve 6 adjacent the mid-portion or balance thereof and is secured theretoin any desiredmanner or as, shownby aset screw 35. Pivotal'ly connected-to a depending lug 36' onthe sleeve 34 isa handle 37 which aids greatlyi-n the-proper application and manipulation of the vibrator unit, since the handle is attached at substantially the balance point of-the device. The sleeve 34 and the handle 8 The clutch 4 is then removed from its con nection with thedriveshaft 1 and the vibrator unit is connectedtothe drive shaft. The afllicted portion of the foot is next thoroughly and effectively massaged with the applicator- 32or the like. It is to be noted as set forthhereinabove that the applicator will gyrate'but will not rotate and thereby injure a patient.

From the foregoing it is apparentthat I have provided an improved vibrator unit which i's'readily attachable to or detachable from a drive shaftand which is adapted to be used with a new and effective method'of treating orthopedic disturbances and ailments of the oo j Y 7 I vam, aware that .manychanges may be made; and; numerous. details of construction be varied through a wide range without departing. from the principles of this invention; and. I',';therefore, d o .no t purpose limiting the patent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the prior art;

sa in im lement a second sleeve havin a shaft rotatable therein and arranged to slide into the first sleeve so that its shaft locks intotheshaft in the first sleeve, means for removably coupling the two sleeves, the said means including a member on the second sleeve arranged to enter the slot in the first sleeve, and having a reversely bent spring member With a toe arranged to enter the aperture in the Wall of the first sleeve.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name at Chicago, Cook County,

Illinois.

CHARLES A. PRIEST. 

